mangroves

[robertusnemo]

ive got a question:

i got a red mangrove seed from a friend somewhere in the carribean.i just threw it in the tank and waited.
Well, nothing happened for months,then suddenly 4 roots started to emerge from the underside,then nothing happened for another month,then a few leaves appeared and now it is starting to grow really fast.with allready 5 leaves.

But my question is, my mangrove plant is completely under water.
so i cant spray him with fresh water and he doesnt have any oxygen or whatever.

he seems to be growing rather fast, so what do u guys think.
Is this ok or should i get him out???

thanks

 

[xcreonx]

the leaves HAVE TO BE above water. the plant takes in the saltwater and exports salt through the leaves. they must be out of the water for it to properly export this salt. otherwise it will die.

 

[Fursphere]

If its growing leaves underwater, it seems that its alive...

contrary to the "its going to die" post.

 

[Triterium]

I would be more concerned about gas exchange in the leaves than salt excretion. But if its growing...I wouldn't worry.

 

[xcreonx]

i'm telling ya, it's not going to last long..... i've been through this before and they always die.

i hope your mangroves are fast growers.

 

[Triterium]

Rhizophora mangle is a salt excluding species and doesn't uptake salt water at its roots. The ionic salt concentration inside the red mangrove is about 1/70th of that of the surrounding water. Iââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢m not saying red mangroves do not have salt excreting glands on the leaf surface, they are just not as active as the ones found on white and black mangroves (which aren't salt excluders). The salt excreting glands are a one-way gland involving active transport and salt from the outside should not enter. Therefore, internal ionic balance shouldn't be affected.

If xcreonx has really lost plants due to this, then you may want to watch your plants closely or even reposition them now.
I have about 250 mangroves growing in a greenhouse and many of them float on the surface with the leaves completely submerged. Granted they do not remain like that for extended periods, but I haven't had problems yet.

 

[xcreonx]

ah, forget it....

 

[Fredfish]

Rhizophora mangle is a salt excluding species

I wondered if there was anyone out there besides me that has noticed this.

Iââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢m not saying red mangroves do not have salt excreting glands on the leaf surface

According to this article, they do not have any salt excreting glands in their leaves.

I would suspect that sooner or later, a mangrove with leaves permenantly submerged will drown.

While there are some fresh water plants that will grow permanently underwater (amazon sword plants) this is an adaptation that allows them to survive months of flooding in their natual environment.

I don't think this is the case with Mangroves. All the mangroves I have ever seen grow their leaves above the high tide line.

Fred.

 

[robertusnemo]

ok thanks for the reactions,

he's still submerged but it's probably better to get him in a shallower area in my reef.

The problem is though: my Clavularia started growing al over the trunk of the mangrove, so its attached to the ground ánd the coral.

Is it worth it to detach it from the gravel and the Clavularia?

thanks